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negroes, in order to reach their own estate, to wade 

 through a river at that time almost dry ; and on 

 their return, Mammy Luna (who it should seem, 

 was not without some skill in witchcraft, J warned 

 them to take care in venturing across the stream, 

 for that the water would infallibly rise and carry 

 away the person who had stolen the contents of 

 her pot ; but if the thief would but confess the 

 offence, she engaged that no harm should happen, 

 as she only wanted to exculpate the innocent, and 

 not to punish the guilty. One and all denied the 

 charge, and several crossed the river without fear 

 or danger ; but upon the approach of a belly - 

 woman to the bank, she was observed to hesitate. 

 " My neger, my neger," said Mammy Luna, " why 

 you stop ? me tink, you savee well, who thief 

 me ? 99 This accusation spirited up the woman, 

 who instantly inarched into the river, singing as 

 she went ( and the woman's part is always chanted 

 frequently in chorus, which the negroes call, 

 " taking up the sing 



" If da me eat Mammy Luna's pease-O, 

 Drowny me water, drowny, drowny ! " 



" My neger, my neger," cried the old woman, 

 " me sure now you the thief! me see the water wet 

 you feet. Come back, my neger, come back." 

 Still on went the woman, and still continued her 

 song of 



" If da me eat Mammy Luna's pease, &c." 



